President Trump responded to the Ariana Grande concert bombing by calling those responsible “evil losers.” This language echoed the “battle between good and evil” speech that he delivered in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
And, just one day after delivering this speech, calling for unison and condemning terrorist, a suicide bomber killed 22 people while injuring many more. Most of them were children and teenagers who came to the venue to see Grande perform in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Parents who had accompanied their children to the concert were in the audience as well and stunned when the bomb exploded after the concert was over.
According to witness reports, the concert inside the Manchester Arena had come to an end, with Ariana Grande already off the stage. Shortly after, the crowd of 21,000 people was making their way towards the exit when suddenly a ground-shaking explosion occurred within the sitting area.
The crowd became hysterical, with children, teens and frightened adults screaming and scattering the building, running in fear for their lives through mass confusion.
Ariana Grande is reportedly shaken up by the occurrence and has effectively canceled the remaining dates of her concert tour. Grande took to twitter to express her grief, stating that she was lost for words and sorry that it happened.
Videos have surfaced showing the chaotic scene, in what some described as horrifying. Many teens and parents had been separated from each other when panic and fear overcame them, sending people running in different directions out of desperation.
Many of those disconnected from each other remain separated, with many posting Facebook messages, asking for information that might lead to a reconnection with their estranged family and friends.
The 22-year-old suicide bomber, identified as Salman Abedi, was able to blend in with the thousands of concertgoers and detonated an explosive pack that was equipped with scattering nails and ball bearings that are specifically designed to rip flesh from the human body and causes massive carnage.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable, Ian Hopkins at a news conference, confirmed the suicide bomber died in the explosion. More than 400 officers were involved in the investigation, with some already on the scene of the explosion at the time it took place.
“The attacker, I can confirm, died at the arena. We believe the attacker was carrying an improvised explosive device which he detonated causing this atrocity.” Further statements go on, “The bombing marks the 13th deadly terrorist attack in Western Europe since the beginning of 2015, and overall, more than 300 people have been killed,” said NPR’s Greg Myree. “ISIS has been linked to most of the attacks,” he added.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, yet that claim has not been confirmed. ISIS has been known to claim responsibility for attacks that they were neither involved in more responsible for, which leaves authorities with the task of verifying the suicide bombers affiliation with the terrorist group.
As he was speaking while on his trip to Bethlehem, Pres. Trump offer prayers for those affected by the tragedy in Manchester, tweeting, “We stand in absolute solidarity with the people of United Kingdom.”
The president continued by condemning Islamic terrorists in a blanket address, saying “”So many young beautiful innocent people living and enjoying their lives murdered by evil losers in life. I won’t call them monsters because they would like that term. They would think that’s a great name. I will call them from now on losers because that’s what they are,” and Trump goes on to add later, “But they’re losers. Just remember that.”
The impact of the bombing escalates lingering concerns of an impending terrorist attack, as these types of plots of terror are becoming more and more common. They also, as if on directed cue, add validity to the notions put forth by Trump in his Islamic address, giving more profound meaning to his words.
In his speech, Commander-in-Chief Donald Trump, while visiting the Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip as president, condemned Islamic terrorist groups, particularly ISIS, for their atrocities against civilization, claiming that we should seek gradual reforms as opposed to sudden interventions. While addressing more than 50 Muslim leaders, Trump called on them to take steps towards a joint effort of all nations to defeat terrorism.
“I am proud to announce that the nations here today will be signing an agreement to prevent the financing of terrorism, called the Terrorism Financing Targeting Center – co-chaired by the United States and Saudi Arabia, and joined by every member of the Gulf Corporation Council,” Trump said in his address. “That means honestly confronting the crisis of Islamic extremism in the Islamic terror groups it inspires. And it means standing together against the murder of innocent Muslims, the oppression of women, the persecution of Jews, and the slaughter of Christians.”
Further assigning accountability onto the shoulders of the leaders he addressed; charge them with a concise task while making clear and plain the ultimate plan for terrorist groups. “Religious leaders must make this absolutely clear: Barbarism will deliver you no glory – piety to evil will bring you no dignity. If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be condemned,” Trump declared in his speech.